Ryan Holiday's annual newsletter contains some powerful quotes and reflections that can help us navigate through life with more ease.
As we reflect on the just-concluded tax season, it is worth considering some of his insights and how they can benefit us.
The first quote that stands out is "Relax."
This simple word of advice could have a profound impact on our lives if we take it to heart. It's amazing how much we can get worked up about things that, in the grand scheme of things, are insignificant. While it's important to have ambition and be committed, we must not allow these traits to become liabilities. We need to strike a balance and not take things too seriously.
Another insight worth considering is about certainty.
While it's important to be confident in our knowledge, we should not be so certain that we close ourselves off to nuance and humility. Our ego may be correct in a narrow instance, but it never ages well. As we get older, we should strive to be more open to different perspectives and less prone to making black and white statements.
Most of our regrets are rooted in fear. We worry about what will happen if we take certain actions or make certain decisions. But as Marcus Aurelius said, "You'll meet tomorrow with the same weapons you have now." We should not let fear paralyze us from taking action. We should believe in ourselves and have faith that we'll figure things out, even if they go wrong.
The pandemic has taught us many things, and one of the most important lessons is that we can survive and thrive without certain things we thought were essential. For instance, we may have thought we couldn't function professionally or personally without travel, events, dinners out, or get-togethers. But the last fifteen months have shown us that we can be productive and happy without them. This realization can help us prioritize our time and energy and focus on what truly matters.
Another valuable lesson is to say "no" when we mean it.
Often, we say "maybe" when we want to say "no," and this leads to regrets and wasted time. We should be honest with ourselves and others and not feel guilty for declining invitations or opportunities that don't align with our values or goals.
Finally, we should focus on our similarities rather than our differences.
The world works better when we get to know each other and appreciate our diversity. We should not let our biases and prejudices prevent us from forming meaningful connections with others.
Taking Action:
If you're interested in more insights like these, consider signing up for our Renewsletter: https://www.renewgroup.com/newsletter. Alternatively, if you'd like to discuss your CPA firm's specific needs, feel free to schedule a call with us: https://www.renewgroup.com/contact.
About the Author:
Shannon Vincent has dedicated his entire career to working with accountants in various capacities. He has consulted with Top 100 firms to Sole Practitioners, helping them create sustainable and profitable businesses. A member of the California Society of CPAs, he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics with an emphasis in accounting from University of California, Santa Barbara, and now resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. Shannon is passionate about helping accounting firms reinvigorate their business model for success.
About Renew Group:
Are you tired of being on the diet but not seeing results? Most consultants to the CPA Profession do lots of talking and deal in 'fluff'. But there's no accountability and no focus on RESULTS.
At Renew, we start with your numbers. Our firms complete a Pareto for Profit analysis EVERY YEAR, set new targets to improve their profitability and then 'weigh in' regularly. We give you a roadmap to transform the profitability of your accounting firm by accessing our content, collaborating with other firms on a similar path and being held accountable by our coaching team and your peers.
Get paid what you're worth, create a better life based on a scalable business model and eliminate tax season insanity once and for all!